Brocock/BRK Brocock Bantam Sniper HR & New Tripod Setup. Advice and Criticism are Welcome

[L.Leon]

@ezana4ce, for me in my shooting a 3-5 mph wind does have an effect on POI at 40 yards and if shooting for groups I hold off accordingly. The wind even when appearing to be calm, is always in play, especially so as the distance increases. For grouping consecutively I prefer calm days, but enjoy shooting in the wind at various targets at different ranges to see what happens. For pesting and hunting you only need that one good shot. Three of your ten shots on that critters' head were marginal. Seven would be DRT kills, question becomes how many shots would you get at one critters head in the field?

 

[Mr.H]

Changed heads to this Innorel N52.

This is a welcomed step up. One slight hitch to work out with it. The ball is hollow and has a large hole in the bottom of it. The mounting screw that the head is attached to extends into the hole and limits my range of motion, especially vertically. I tried to get my sights on some crows and was unable to tilt the head far enough to see them. I’ll have to explore other mounting options. 


Here's how I have my N52 set up. Sunday DP-60R Arca adapter mates to my Pig Saddle. I can get plenty of vertical action on the ball head.

If you need more photos, let me know!

 

[Ezana4CE]

@Mr-H With the way that the N52 head is currently set-up to screw into the tripod’s center column the ball is limited in vertical tilt to this point. 

Here is a picture of the hole in the bottom of the ball. It is rotated so that you all can see where I will be taking a depth measurement from. When screwed down securely the mounting screw is entering this hole - the ball was rotated slightly to show part of the bottom of the ball. When aligned perfectly straight all that can be seen through the mounting plate(disc?) is the inside of the ball from the hole in the bottom of it.

.

The problem is that the length of the mounting screw is longer than the depth of the threads in the mounting plate/disc that the bolt screws into to affix the head to the tripod, thus protruding into the hole in the bottom of the ball and inhibiting its range of motion. This measurement was taken with the depth rod - I flipped the calipers to show the measurement as well as to show a closeup of what was measured. 

Measurement of threads to bottom of ball/hole opening.

A solution I found was to remove the circled screw/double-sided bolt placing the long end through the disc and into the tripod. I don’t like it as a permanent solution because the threads on the shorter end are fitted with an adapter that screws over some skinnier threads, hence the color variation between the metals on both ends. The problem the adapter presents is the potential of unscrewing it from the bolt and dumping the head or the gun attached to the head. I’d like to find a bolt that is the proper length and won’t need an adapter. Hopefully this shouldn’t be too hard. I actually figured out a solution while putting this post together.

Simply flipping the mounting plate/disc didn’t secure the head well and left an undesirable gap between the head and tripod. The plate/disc is designed to fit the hex portion of the bolt (in the center of the bolt) so that it snugs down the mounting plate/disc and secures it to as it is screwed down into the tripod. When unscrewing the head for storage or to swap it out the mounting plate won’t fall off of the bolt and get lost. Flipping the entire mounting plate/disc negates this feature, so that won’t do.

After making the change (flipping the bolt) this is the result. The gap is gone and I have the desired full range of motion with the ball. 

If something I typed doesn’t make sense or needs more clarification please let me know. 

 

[Mr.H]

Looks like you got it figured out!

 

[Ezana4CE]

Looks like you got it figured out!

@Mr-H Yes. This will do for now. Thanks for your input. Now I’d like to know a little bit about your pig saddle. What type is it and where’d you get it? I went to my local hunting supply/gun shop and they stopped carrying them. 

 

[Mr.H]

Looks like you got it figured out!

@Mr-H Yes. This will do for now. Thanks for your input. Now I’d like to know a little bit about your pig saddle. What type is it and where’d you get it? I went to my local hunting supply/gun shop and they stopped carrying them.

I ordered direct from Shadow Tech a number of years ago. Interesting products! I really like it, very robust and works for a number of different rifles that don't easily use an ARCA or Pic rail

https://stores.hogsaddle.com/pig-saddle-1/

 

[Ezana4CE]

@Mr-H Thanks for the pig saddle link. When you have time can you take a picture of the hardware that secures your N52 to your tripod? It’s tough to tell trying to zoom in on the pictures you posted. 

 

[Mr.H]

@Mr-H Thanks for the pig saddle link. When you have time can you take a picture of the hardware that secures your N52 to your tripod? It’s tough to tell trying to zoom in on the pictures you posted.

Here is the Arca plate that works with the saddle. It uses two different threaded bolts that attach to the saddle. I think I used blue loctite on the threads.

 

[Ezana4CE]

Today was my first day practicing shooting while standing with this tripod and head combo. It wasn’t bad, although the center column has a little play in it. If I don’t position my feet to carry my own weight to prevent leaning on or into the tripod too much it will wobble slightly. It would be nice to be able to shoot with the tripod’s legs closer together. When I position it that way it stands tall enough to shoot without the use of the center column, but if it’s bumped or kicked there’s nothing locking the legs in place and they can fold in and topple the tripod and gun. Eventually I’d like to try a tripod with a bowl in the future. I really like this Innorel N52 tripod head, great value for the money in my opinion. This set up suits me nicely.

From 50 yards i shot a few 1” -1.1” groups. I know it’s not the best, but it’s an improvement for me. Hit a couple bulls too.

These are 5-shot groups:

This is a 10-shot group. Shot #7 fell off the reg. I estimated my holdover to compensate based on where shot #7 fell and I took shots #8-10 off the reg. 
I felt kinda good about this group. Minus shot #7, the group measured 1.18”

 

[Ezana4CE]

I added a Donny FL Tanto moderator and a bubble level on the scope. I like this moderator. I was unsure if it would be sufficient to take the bark out of the Bantam Sniper. It’s not mouse fart quiet, but it definitely takes the pop out of the shots. I’m curious about how the animals will react to the sound

 

[Ezana4CE]

Added an Eaglevision one-piece Adjustable Infinity Mount for use with my Pard NV007a. This seems like it will be good to prevent me from having to remove my rings to mount the scope forward each time I attach the Pard unit. I’ll add a photo when the site allow me to.

This is the scope on the mount before affixing the Pard NV007a. Notice the position of the ocular lens in relation to the cheek rest. 

After mounting the Pard. Look at the front of the mount on both pics. In this one you can see how it slides forward. Now note the position of the Pard eyecup in relation to the cheek rest. 


The Pard mounted before the forward adjustment 

After the forward adjustment 

 

[bzizzi373]

I have the same gun in my collection, sometimes it would shoot good and next time spray pellets all over the place, tried a long list of things that made gun better but not being satisfied I went more extreme. I had a 500mm FX STX liner in .22 that I knew was super accurate, I made an adapter to use this on the Bantam HR .22. set up gun with 18.1 JSB Exacts @ 900 FPS this fixed the accuracy issues once and for all, gun also loves Hades @ 935. You would be blown away with this Sniper HR, it's just stupid accurate any time I shoot it.

 

[CLWhite67]

I was just shooting my Sniper Safari HP this morning on my Bog Deathgrip tripod. I have mine setup to shoot 25.89 grain at 905 fps in .22 caliber. Missed just 4 shots over 43 1 1/2" targets. I have them spaced out at 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80 yards with 1" targets at 65 yards. The Sniper s a great little gun and I love my tripod, not as stable as a bench but it's what I use when hunting squirrels so I practice how I hunt.

 

[Ezana4CE]

I have the same gun in my collection, sometimes it would shoot good and next time spray pellets all over the place, tried a long list of things that made gun better but not being satisfied I went more extreme. I had a 500mm FX STX liner in .22 that I knew was super accurate, I made an adapter to use this on the Bantam HR .22. set up gun with 18.1 JSB Exacts @ 900 FPS this fixed the accuracy issues once and for all, gun also loves Hades @ 935. You would be blown away with this Sniper HR, it's just stupid accurate any time I shoot it.

When spending the kind of money we’re charged for our toys and tools you have to do what you have to do to be satisfied. I don’t blame you. My Bantam shoots great. I really like this rifle. I’m a mediocre shooter with plenty of room for improvement. 

 

[Ezana4CE]

I was just shooting my Sniper Safari HP this morning on my Bog Deathgrip tripod. I have mine setup to shoot 25.89 grain at 905 fps in .22 caliber. Missed just 4 shots over 43 1 1/2" targets. I have them spaced out at 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80 yards with 1" targets at 65 yards. The Sniper s a great little gun and I love my tripod, not as stable as a bench but it's what I use when hunting squirrels so I practice how I hunt.

@CLWhite67 That’s exactly what I’ve been doing. I have an idea for how I’d like to use this setup for squirrels. Until yesterday I just needed a good location. I found one yesterday evening when I went to observe. I ended up bagging a sentry squirrel with my Lelya. The squirrel climbed up and started barking at me from a tree about 25-30 yards to my 3 o’clock. Hit him between the eye and ear and shut him up. Then went back to glassing the oaks. The ones I was observing were about 50-100 yards out. The tree I was focused on was at about 50 yards. I tried taking two, but missed both at that range.



Some old timers had been telling me to hunt in this location for weeks. Another hunter also mentioned it to me a couple of days ago so I went. I’m taking this setup and I expect to nail multiple squirrels in the next outing. I don’t think they’re accustomed to being shot at just yet.


Now that I’ve found an environment that offers multiple targets I need to start practicing shooting multiple targets at various ranges. Have you gotten comfortable moving your rifle around on the tripod to shoot squirrels relatively fast enough to bag multiple animals in the same area without running off the others?

 

[Emu]

I have only used a bipod while seating on a blind for deer/jabalina hunting.

I make metal rest for shooting from my bench.

On an Elk hunting I was not able to shoot to a moving bull because I tried to use the bipod. I would have easily harvested it If I would have shot standing without rest.

 

[Ezana4CE]

I have only used a bipod while seating on a blind for deer/jabalina hunting.

I make metal rest for shooting from my bench.

On an Elk hunting I was not able to shoot to a moving bull because I tried to use the bipod. I would have easily harvested it If I would have shot standing without rest.

It may be time to try a tripod setup like the ones pictured in this thread. 

 

[Ezana4CE]

I removed the bipod and put this on the tripod tonight. This is a pretty heavy set up. I’d guess abound 10-12 lbs. 

 

[L.Leon]

@ezana4ce, yes she's looking a little heavy... I took off both of the picatinny rails on my Bantam. I mounted my scope rings directly to the receiver. Maybe you could do something similar?

 

[Ranchibi]

Ezana, I too have an Accu-Tac bipod and I purchased 2 sets of their leg extensions which works kind of like a small tripod. I've used it in the field and it works like a charm. I've shot from a stool and also kneeling. Here is a photo, not mine I think Dana, Crossman777.

 Keeps the rig light and foldable.